The Health Benefits of Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

Lingonberry also known as cowberry is an evergreen shrub that bears edible fruit; the name lingonberry originates from the Swedish name lingon for the species. Lingonberry contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. It also acts as an astringent, depurative, antiseptic, diuretic and anti-hemorrhagic.

Lingonberry is used in different kinds of jams, jellies, juices, pasties, pie and porridges.

Lingonberry

Studies have shown that lingonberry can prevent weight gain when consumed with a healthy diet. Like other small berries such as cranberries, blueberries and blackberries, lingonberries are very high in antioxidants. Antioxidants work to minimize the effects of harmful free radicals in the body.
 
Free radicals are molecules that are produced in the body from breaking down food, smoking and from radiation. Antioxidants have been shown to help treat and prevent a wide range of health problems from prematurely aging skin to cancer and other diseases.
 
Consuming loganberry juice every day, can benefit women greatly, as it reduce their chances of developing a painful urinary tract infection in the future just like cranberries, the composition of the loganberries prevents UTIs by keeping the bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder.
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So it is highly recommended for women. These Scandinavian berries also produced lower blood sugar levels and cholesterol, which protects the heart from diseases.
 
Lingonberries, just like their better-known cranberry cousins, are a storehouse of flavonoids, especially quercetin.
 
Apart from having anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, quercetin has antihistamine properties that help to alleviate allergy symptoms. Lingonberry is a popular cure for liver ailments, gastritis, hypertony and gastric ulcer.
 
Its capacity to regulate salt metabolism makes it an effective remedy for treating diseases like renal lithiasis, uratic arthritis and rheumatism.
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Native Americans in North America have a history of using this berry to help those suffering with diabetes and cardiovascular illness.
 
Lingonberries though not very popular are available in juice form in some health food stores or they can be bought frozen or in powdered form online.